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  • #25871
    gslund
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    Can anyone tell me how old my Fender Squier Strat is? The Serial number begins with CY000. I know it is made in China. I need to access the wiring diagrams, in order to replace the 5 way switch. Please help! GL

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    • #79444
      USGold
      Participant

      Pre-1996 dating is approximate.

      Japanese Squiers:

      For Japanese serial number dating see Fenders site.
      The Japanese MIJ Squiers were made by FujiGen up to 1997 and the Japanese CIJ Squiers were made by Tokai and Dyna from 1997.

      Mexican Squiers:

      M stands for Mexico, the second character refers to the decade: N represents Nineties (1990’s). And the first number following is the year. So, for example “MN8” = made by Fender at Ensenada Mexico in 1998.

      USA Squiers:

      USA Squires are very rare and usually have a E serial number and were made for less than a year spanning 1989 and 1990.

      Korean Squiers:

      C refers to Cort, V refers to Saehan(Sunghan), S was already taken by Samick so Saehan(Sunghan) used V instead (Saehan(Sunghan) made the Vester guitars). Those made by Cort are the most desirable. The second character refers to the decade: N represents Nineties (1990’s). And the first number following is the year. So, for example “CN6” = made by Cort in 1996 and “VN6” = made by Saehan(Sunghan) in 1996.

      Exceptions:

      Pro-Tone Series (solid ash bodies) had serial numbers with either a) no preceding letters and 7 digits, with the first number being the year, or b) starting with KC for Korean Cort, followed by 2-digit year.

      Stagemaster Deluxe (neck-thru maple necks with basswood wings), and the Double Fat Tele Deluxe (all solid mahogany with set necks), with serial numbers starting with KC for Korean Cort, followed by 2-digit year.

      There were also some KV (Korean Saehan(Sunghan)) serial numbers followed by 2-digit year.

      The KC and KV forms are apparently associated with the change to Crafted in Korea. So, post-1996 models only would have this form of serial number.

      Six-digit serial numbers with no preceding letters, with the first number being the year.

      Squier II’s could not possibly have been assembled before 1987/88, as these represent the transition to Indian and then Korean production, and all the ramifications of such (the serial numbers can be off by years for these particular axes, and neck dates may also be misleading).
      The S and E Squires seem to be from the late 1980’s/early 1990’s and don’t seem to have a reliable serial number system for dating.
      Some Squier II’s were made in India around 1989-1990.
      A lot of the Squier II’s had a plywood body.

      Chinese Squiers:

      YN: Y = Yako (Taiwan). The second character refers to the decade N = Nineties (1990’s). And the first number following is the year. So, for example “YN6” = 1996. This form is associated with Made in China Affinitys (with the standard body thickness of 45mm/1.75).

      CY: Y = Yako (Taiwan) C = China. CY is followed by 2-digit year. CY appears on most models produced in China, and is by far the most common form. These forms are apparently associated with the change to Crafted in China, so post-1996 models only would have this form of serial number.
      Some Chinese Gretsch’s use a CY serial number.
      YN is associated with ‘made in china’ rather than ‘crafted in china’ and 1996 was the year they swapped to ‘crafted in china’ and mostly CY prefixes.
      Miscellaneous Chinese serials: CD, CT, CJ, NC: C = China, the first number following the serial number prefix is the year.
      Probably made by Yako (Taiwan).
      Squier serial numbers beginning with CA are made by Axl China.

      Indonesian Squiers:

      IC = Made in Indonesia by Cort (solid agathis from 1998), followed by 2-digit year.
      IS = Made in Indonesia by Samick. Bullet Series (plywood), followed by 2-digit year.

      Indian Squiers:

      Some Squier II’s were made in India around 1989-1990.
      Some recent Squiers are being made in India.

    • #79416
      asconagt
      Participant

      Try looking here if you haven’t already found it:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squier#Chinese_.26_Taiwanese_Squiers

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